Things are great, and here is why.

Can’t say a ton has happened since I last wrote, but life has been going well.

What I’m realizing:

I kind of already knew this, but its importance is becoming clearer to me every single day: Fill your time with things and people that matter to you.

My job. My mom always told me to figure out what I love to do and find a way to do it for work. Confucius said, “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” and Steve Jobs said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” It’s true.

I have been at my current job for almost three months already and to be honest, it hasn’t felt like work yet. Pair that with the few hours I spend at the high school nearby, volunteering as an assistant varsity field hockey coach, and it still doesn’t feel like work. Some days I get up at 5 a.m. for CrossFit, work from 8-4, and go to practice until 6. It’s thirteen straight hours of go-go-go, but I love it. It’s hard to be unhappy when you’re busy doing things you love. And when you surround yourself with people you love.

My family. When my half sister passed away at the end of June, I remembered just how important my family is. Yes, I always knew it, but to think that my niece and nephew didn’t have one of their aunts made me realize that I need to be more pro-active about spending time with them, even if they do live further away than I’d prefer. And this goes with all of my family–my brother moved to California and it’s been tough not having him around everyday; my grandma is 96 and obviously isn’t getting any younger; my dad has made a real effort to be more involved and more supportive. At the end of the day, there’s one thing that is important for everyone to remember: you only get one family. Love them and love the time you have with them.

My friends. Some people are worth your time. Some people, you may not see for months or years, even, but when you finally do see them, it’s like nothing has changed. Those are the people I want in my life, and I’m lucky to have them. Back in May, when my friend was dealing with a breakup, we reconnected and I was there for him. Then when I was dealing with a breakup, he was there for me. On Fourth of July, I spent the day with him in Boston, and we hadn’t seen each other in years; we literally hadn’t seen each other since 2009, when we studied abroad and lived together in a flat in London. When we finally hung out, it felt like nothing had changed. We still talk everyday and I feel truly blessed to have met him. In July, I found out that my best friend from high school was diagnosed with cancer for a third time. His strength and attitude are always so inspiring, and I really believe that he is one of the best people I know. Having him there has reminded me to be grateful of everything I have and approach each day with a smile. In November, I am heading down to DC to spend time with my best friends from college, and I know that once we all get down there, it will be like nothing has changed. They are all some of the nicest and most genuine people I’ve ever met.

My dog. This has to be its own category because even though I consider her family, she needs to be acknowledged separately. She is constantly making new discoveries, loves literally every single person and dog she meets (and greets everyone with kisses), and is always so happy. It amazes me every single day how much joy she has brought me. I think the fact that I rescued her from a shelter (and she was scheduled to be euthanized on July 23) makes her that much more special to me. Knowing that I saved her life and will be able to give her the best one possible makes every second, every inconvenience, every dollar I spend on her worth it.

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So let me repeat what I started all of this off with.

Fill your time with things and people that matter to you.

It makes everyday that much better, and every moment that much more meaningful.

2 thoughts on “Things are great, and here is why.”

Thank you Brenna! And I’m so glad you liked the tweet I made about things always working out..and I realized when I read one of your recent posts about a potential new job (!!!!!!) that it is relevant. Anyway, let me know how that turns out! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. The fact that they were willing to consider you for another position at the same organization speaks volumes about your potential, professionalism, and competence.